John m



lllNrrEn STATES JOHN M. RUSSELL, OE GARRISON, KANSAS, 'ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALE To ROBERT M. MANN, OE SAME PLACE.

AUTOMATlC FIRE-LIGHTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part lof Letters Patent No, 284,677, dated September 11, 1883,

Application filed June 1Q, 1883. (No model.)

being had to the accompanying drawings, and

to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in fire-lighters;I and it consists, essentially, in the peculiar means whereby the match-arm is released at a predetermined time, and in other improvements, all of which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a machine constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the iire-box. Fig. 3 is a detail view, and Fig. 4 is a detached'section, of the fire-box on line a', Fig. l.

The several parts of my machine are mounted on a suitable base-plate, A, so it may be arranged close to the stove when being set for use and removed and set aside when not in use, as will be readily understood.

The fire-box B is composed of the main or lighting chamber B and the connecting-chamber B2. This connecting-chamber is composed of the two parts Bi B, the top part, B4, being removable from the 'lower part for the purpose of renewing the match, properly placing the kindling, Src. The upper edges of the' side plates of part B3 are turned out, as shown, and the side plates of top or part B" are turned to fit the turned-out portions of the lower part, B, as shown in Figs. l and 2, so that the hood or top B" may be readily removed Vfrom the main body ofthe fire-box. In thel top of the hood BAl is formed a ilue, B5, which may be connected withthe smoke-nues or chimney of the stove in which the fire is to be lighted.

The match-arm C is pivoted on a support, c, and extends through a slot, b, formed in the front plate of the fire-box, and is provided O11 its inner end, c', with a suitable socket or other means for retaining the match c2. The outer end of this arm extends beyond the support c, and moves up and down close to the side of a standard, D, and the said arm is preferablyV -outer end of the arm C, while its other end is made fast to the standard D, near its top'. Through the standard D, near its bottom, and at right angles to the arm C, I form a hole, d, through which the point of the releasing-bar passes. This releasing-bar E has its point e passed through the opening d, and engaging in the notch c in the arm O when the parts are in the position shown in Figs. l and 3, and the opposite end of the rod Eis carried to and connected eccentrically with the mainV shaft of the alarm mechanism; This may be done by eceentrically securing a wrist-pin, e, on the mainshaft palettes e2 ofthe train, and securing the rod E thereto 5 or a disk especially for the rod might be provided at the top of the main shaft e3 of the alarm mechanism, or, where so desired, the said shaft e3 might be bent to form a crank and the end of' rod E secured thereto. This rod E is preferably made in the "L shape Shown, as thereby the motion of said rod from side to side, as the palette revolves, will not bend the point c; but the said point will move readilywithin the hole d in standard D.

I have not illustrated the alarm mechanism in detail, but merely shown its connection with the parts which .I intend to operate thereby.

This.mechanism may be of any of the usual,

alarm forms, and may be used with or without the gong, as desired, the desired feature being the automatic starting of the alarm mechanism or train at a time predeterminedby the operator.

The scratch-block f is pivoted within the lire-box on a suitablev support, f, depending from the top of said chamber, and the upper end of said block is carried forward and bent up, and is connected with the supportf by coil-springft, So that the block f will conform to the line of motion of thematch, as will 'be readily understood from Figs. l and 4.

In the operation of my invention thekindling is properly arranged in the re-boX, and

IOO

the latter is moved so as to communicate with the grate of the stove or otherwise with the fuel in the stove proper, and the several partsmatch-arm, releasing-rod, &c.are arranged as shown in Fig. 1, the alarm-train being properly wound and set at time the fire is to be lighted, the clock or time-train being properly wound and running, as is usual in alarmclocks, so as to trip the alarm mechanism and start the same. Then the alarm mechanism is started, the shaft e3 will revolve. This will draw rod E out of engagement with the arm C, releasing the outer end of same, which is drawn up rapidly by the spring D, and the match, secured on its other end, bearing against the scrateh-blockf, will be ignited and light the kindling placed in the fire-box, and the llames will rapidly spread to the fuel in the stove.

It will be understood that the rod E could be operated by a string fastened thereto and extended to the bedside of the operator, so the fire could be started before arising; but this would involve the awakening of operator before any necessity therefor, and I prefer the means before described because of its automatic operation and convenience.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters'Patent,

. 1. ln a fire-lighter, the combination of the pivoted match-arm, the operating-spring, the alarm mechanism, and the releasing-rod having one end arranged to engage and release the match-carrying arm, and its other end connected eccentrically with the main shaft ofthe alarm mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a fire-lighter, the combination, with the match-arm pivoted on asuitable support, and means for holding, releasing, and operating the same, of a scratch-block pivoted in the path of the match end of said arm, the upper end of said scratch-block being'extended above its pivotal point, and aretracting spring connecting the rear. side of said upward extension to the framing, whereby the said scratch-block is made yielding to conform to the curved line of motion of the pivoted match-arm, substantially as s et forth. f l

3. The combination of the fire box, the scratch-block arranged therein, the matcharm, the standard arranged alongside the outer end of said arm, a spring having one end made fast to the standard, and itsother end connected to the outer end of the match-arm, the

alarm mechanism, and the releasing-rod con.-

nected with and operated by the alarm mech- 'anism, and engaging and automatically releas- 

